Rihanna has warned her fans of the dangers of domestic violence as she spoke out about her own experience for the first time.

The Umbrella singer gave an exclusive interview to Diane Sawyer - which will air on Good Morning America in the US on Thursday - breaking her silence about the night she was attacked by then boyfriend Chris Brown nine months ago.

Rihanna, 21, said: "This happened to me ... it can happen to anyone."

Speaking about her feelings for the RnB star, she said: "He was definitely my first big love."

Brown - who has publicly apologised - is serving a community service sentence in Virginia after pleading guilty to assault and has also been working on new music for an album titled Graffiti, released in December.

Rihanna is releasing her fourth album, Rated R, on November 23. The album's first single Russian Roulette was debuted last week.

Tue 3 Nov